the funny part is, that there is no other sign and the "+" looks like a real + and not a -. The "+" looks like a factory stamp. Assuming that it defines the TDC, how many degrees away should I then find the "$" sign (or the timing position)?

Klaus, With the $ sign in center of window you will be 1/2 inch before top dead center, Both signs are in the narrow part of flywheel face. They are very near 2 1/2 inches apart on circumference. My 46 and 47 motors also look like + signs:)

Timing may be done on the rear cylinder with the head removed and based upon piston height from the cylinder deck. The specs call for the piston to be 17/32” below the cylinder deck coming up on the compression stroke. I have developed a handy-dandy timing tool that allows you to time based on piston height with the rear head on the engine using the spark plug hole.

Last edited by Johnmcmd on Wed Jan 06, 2010 11:54 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Timing on the front cylinder (when there is a timing plug) is because the timing marks on the flywheel are indexed to the position of the front cylinder piston. This is a V-twin with the cylinders offset by 42 degrees so the rear cylinder does not fire at the same timing mark. This maybe somewhat moot on an earlier engine without a timing plug to line up the flywheel timing mark. If you were doing it solely on piston height then it really wouldn't matter...except for ease of access. I have a clear lucite plug for the timing plug and have painted a white index mark on the flywheel. This way I can line up the mark with the hole (make sure front piston is on compression stroke); turn the ignition on; fully advance the spark; and then rotate the distributor until the amp meter fluxuates on-off. That will static time your engine. Then I run it with a timing light on the front ignition wire to dynamically test the timing.

Indian specified timing on the rear cylinder on the older engines that had the timing hole at the bottom. They specified the timing in fractions of an inch before TDC. Most of these flywheels only marked TDC if they were marked at all although I have seen a set with marks for both case styles. The later engines that had the large timing hole at the top specified timing on the front cylinder and usually had TDC and the timing mark but timing in fractions of an inch were still specified.Dusty